Starting New Initiatives

Once upon a time there was a, there was a, a……………..

Sometimes starting things can be the biggest challenge. Let’s be honest, who hasn’t sat down to write an essay just to find themselves staring at the empty word document one hour later. Just like starting an essay, starting any new initiative can be a challenge, although there are some key insights which can make the process easier.

In real estate the catch cry is ‘Location, Location, Location’. In starting new initiatives the catch cry is ‘Credibility, Credibility, Credibility’. Throughout the last few years I have spoken to many leaders who can’t seem to understand why people aren’t getting involved in their new initiative. Often these leaders have heard from God and have a very good vision, but people don’t seem to be catching it. This is because of that magical word credibility.

Let’s put it this way, imagine a phone company starts up and offers $800 credit per month on a $15 cap. Would you immediately change to that phone company? No, you wouldn’t. Reason being, you want to know things like: Do they have good coverage? Can they provide the service they are offering? Can I trust them? But if that same phone company was around for 2 years offering that same rate with a good reputation then I bet you would choose them. It is the same with starting a new initiative, it takes time to build trust in people around you. But when you have it, watch how many people get behind the vision.

It doesn’t have to be a frustrating waiting game though; here are some things that you can focus on while your credibility builds:

1. Learn: Seek to find people who have done what you are planning on doing and learn from them. Let key people speak into your life and be accountable.

2. Have a small win: Maybe you can’t fulfil your whole plan as yet, that’s ok, find one part of your vision you can do and do it. It’s often said ‘can you eat an elephant?’ And the answer is yes. One bite at a time.

3. Develop your character: A tree is not held up by its branches, it is held up by the unseen roots under ground. In the same way, character is often the unseen attribute of a leader, but it’s the most important.

5. Make the vision clear: Spend time praying into the vision and attempting to write it down as clearly as possible. At the end of the day as people get on board, they will need to know where they are going and how they are going to get there.

Starting new initiatives can be a challenge, but it can be a rewarding time also. Spend less time worrying about why people aren’t getting on board and more time on developing yourself and others around you. As your credibility grows, wait and see the amount of people who get behind your vision.